Contents

History and overview

Skittles were first made commercially in 1974 by a British company.[3] They were first introduced in North America in 1979 as an import confectionery.[2] In 1982, domestic production of Skittles began in the United States.[2]

On March 2, 2009, Skittles launched a web-based marketing campaign where their official website became a small overlay with options to view different social media sites in the main area, including its official YouTube channel, a Facebook profile, and a Twitter account.[5] The move was debated by people interested in social media.[6][7]

Skittles is the most popular candy among youth and the second most popular chewy candy, after Starburst, among all persons in the United States.[8]

Skittles has one of the most-"liked" brand pages on Facebook, with over 25 million followers. The page's success may be due to its eccentric posts, such as: "Most cacti are just looking for hugs."[9]

Varieties

Skittles are produced in a wide variety of flavours and colours, including sour varieties. Skittles has hinted at new flavour releases on its Facebook page, using such statuses as "Locking myself in the Rainbow kitchen until I see some results!" A 2011 posting contained confirmation of a new flavor: "Putting the last touches on a new Skittles flavor. Tweak the Rainbow."[10] In 2013, Skittles replaced the lime-flavoured Skittles with green apple, causing a backlash from some consumers. The lime became part of their Darkside packets.